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NWTN Economic Development Council

Oglesby-Townes is New Director

Posted
The Board of Directors of Northwest Tenn. Economic Development Council recently appointed Mrs. Cheryl Oglesby-Townes as the executive director of Northwest Tennessee Economic Development Council located in Dresden. Northwest Tenn. Economic Development Council is the local Community Action Agency in Northwest Tennessee serving the counties of Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion and Weakley counties.
 
The Agency provides services to children and families in the northwest service area through the programs of CSBG (Community Services Block Grant), LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), TEFAP (Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program) and the Head Start/Early Head Start Program. The Head Start/Early Head Start Program provides services in the 8 counties of Benton, Carroll, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion, Madison and Weakley.
 
Cheryl Oglesby-Townes has served as a 30-year employee of Northwest Tenn. Economic Development Council and has previously served in various roles with the Agency, and most recently the role of Human Resource administrator. 
 
Ms. Oglesby-Townes is a 1988 graduate of McKenzie High School and received her bachelor’s degree in Management and Organizational Development from Bethel University. She also received her certification from SEACAA (Southeastern Association of Community Action Agencies) as a Certified Community Action Manager in August 2002. 
 
She is a former Head Start parent and Early Head Start and Head Start grandparent. 
 
Ms. Oglesby-Townes resides in McKenzie and she is married to Jessie Townes, Sr., vice mayor for City of McKenzie and mother to Breonna Oglesby. She has two bonus children, Jessie, Jr. and Samantha and five grandchildren. 
 
Ms. Oglesby-Townes’ appointment to the position of executive director is a very historical moment for the Agency as she is the second female appointed to serve in this position and the first African American female to serve in the position. She follows Don Ridgeway, who recently retired from the position.
 
Northwest Tennessee Economic Development Council, is a private, non-profit community action agency gaining its charter from the Tennessee State Legislature in 1965. Community Action Agencies were the direct result of the initiatives established during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty” and his “Great Society” movement in the 1960s.
 
Community Action Agencies are a primary source of support for more than 3.1 million people living in poverty in the United States. The majority of CAA clients are extremely poor. Nearly 40% of the families served have incomes below 75% of the federal poverty threshold. CAA Professionals expertly coordinate and integrate an array of services at federal, state and local levels. CAA staff, board, and volunteers use innovative solutions to help people achieve self -sufficiency.
 
Community Action Agencies are governed by a uniquely structured volunteer board of directors: at least one-third is comprised of representatives from the low-income community; up to one-third is from the private sector; and one-third is local, elected public officials.
 
For more information regarding Northwest Tenn. Economic Development Council, visit the website www.nwcommunityaction.org.